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VAR Matt Donohue and assistant Blake Antrobus have been stood down from the next Premier League fixture round after their handling of Erling Haaland’s Manchester derby winner.
The decision was reached by Howard Webb, Pro Ref’s chief refereeing officer, together with the organisation’s management team, following a review of Sunday’s 1-0 Manchester City victory at Old Trafford. The organisation will assess the pair’s availability again once the international break has ended.
It is the first time this season that officials have been removed from appointments because of an error, with Donohue and Antrobus both left off the coming weekend’s roster.
WRAP: Man City win controversial Manchester Derby as Pro Ref admits ‘error of judgement’ following ‘injustice’
The error came in the 60th minute of the 199th Manchester derby, when Haaland converted at the far post after Josko Gvardiol’s cross had deflected off Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu.
Referee Michael Oliver initially disallowed the goal for offside against Haaland. Semi-automated offside technology then established that Dorgu’s boot had played the City striker onside, prompting Donohue to overturn the on-field decision.
The VAR and Assistant VAR from Sunday's fixture will now not officiate until at least after the international break. pic.twitter.com/AqPUDQk5Em
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) September 14, 2026
But City midfielder Enzo Fernández was standing offside in the middle of the penalty area and attempted to meet the cross with a diving header before it reached Haaland. Fernández did not touch the ball, leaving officials to judge whether his action affected an opponent.
Pro Ref said the VAR team focused on Haaland’s position without properly considering Fernández’s involvement.
“The on-field decision was offside against Haaland, that was checked by VAR and he was found to be in an onside position,” a Pro Ref spokesperson said.
“In the same attack, it was established that Fernández did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offence subjective, however, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review.”
The correct process would have sent Oliver to the pitchside monitor to decide whether Fernández’s attempted header interfered with a United player. Pro Ref said the technology correctly determined Haaland’s position.
The relevant offside law covers a player “clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts on an opponent”. Replays of the incident showed United goalkeeper Senne Lammens reacting to Fernández’s attempted header before Haaland scored.
United manager Michael Carrick also argued that Lisandro Martínez had been forced to respond to Fernández’s movement six yards from goal.
“If that’s how the rules are interpreted, that you’re not interfering with play because you’ve thrown yourself at the ball six yards from goal and pretty much nearly touched it, which then Lisandro has to react from, it’s worrying if that’s really how the game’s seen by those who are officiating it,” Carrick said.
Pro Ref contacted United on Sunday night and acknowledged what it called an “error of judgment”. Haaland’s goal remained decisive after City had played from the 23rd minute with 10 men following Phil Foden’s red card.
The win moved City to 12 points from four matches, level with Arsenal and second on goal difference. United were left 13th with four points.
Donohue has refereed in the EFL since 2018 and completed Pro Ref’s Enhanced VAR Training Programme. Antrobus worked as a Premier League assistant referee during each of the season’s opening three matchdays, but both must now wait until after the international break to be considered for another appointment.